I have absolutely loved being pregnant with you. Aside from some morning sickness in the beginning, this has been a very stress-free and wonderful experience. For the last 38 weeks you and I have shared nourishment, hormones, pokes, and my off-key singing in the car. I'm really going to miss your wee kicks, squirms and wiggles.

Your personality is already showing itself to your daddy and me. When we poke you during your active time you squiggle in response. You move around very vigorously when you hear music, or when we're having a ride on the boat, or when I'm dancing around while doing my chores. Unlike most babies you are very active during the afternoon and early evening hours. You seem to like being involved with my conversations throughout the day, because you like distracting me with a sudden somersault or urgent kick to my bladder while I'm chatting with a friend or talking with your daddy. Luckily, you settle down around 11:00 at night so that you and I can get a good night's sleep. If I have a bad dream that something is wrong you give me a mighty kick when I anxiously nudge you to make sure you're still ok in there.

When we found out I was pregnant your daddy and I were beyond excited. We always knew we wanted to have a family. You became very real to us the day we went for our first ultrasound. That day, as we watched you on the screen moving your arms and legs, and saw your strong little heart beating we were in awe that we had created such a perfect, tiny life. We looked at each other and realized that our lives had just changed forever. As we drove home something happened in my heart -- a new chamber had magically appeared and was filling with a new love for you that overwhelmed me. I cried. I think your daddy might have cried too, but he'll probably deny it!?

The day I first felt you kick was no doubt the highlight of my pregnancy. I remember looking at your daddy with wonder as I put my hand on my tummy. You were getting stronger. I could hardly wait for you to get strong enough for your daddy to feel you. And when he finally did he gave me a tender look of amazement that I'll never forget.

As I write this you are moving around in my tummy, no doubt trying to get comfortable in an increasingly cramped nest. I have done everything I can these last few months to provide you with a safe environment so that you could grow strong and healthy. Your daddy and I will continue to keep you safe, happy and healthy in this big, strange world you're soon about to enter. You are the tangible result of a love that will become even stronger when we bring you back home.

I have been slowly amassing information on all branches of my family tree for several years. It's been an interesting journey and I've learned a great deal about genealogy, record keeping, history, etc. To me, it's the journey not the destination, so to speak, that captures my imagination and attention. I love hearing about everyday ordinary stories about everyday ordinary folks. I'm not in this to figure out if I'm related to Peter the Great (sorry dad, haven't verified that one yet!?) or a distant cousin of one of the Jonas Brothers. I'm especially keen to learn more about my brave immigrant ancestors who defied all odds and made a new life in a strange, new world.

My husband's family (Morehouse) has a claim to fame in their lineage. It would seem that several Morehouse families arrived in New Brunswick at the close of the American Revolutionary War. In particular, Daniel Morehouse, seems to be the ancestor from whence my husband's family sprang. With a click of a mouse button I can suddenly add 6 generations to my husband's family tree, culminating in a famous local figure -- an American Loyalist. At the Kings Landing Historical Settlement (near Fredericton, my husband's hometown) there is even a Morehouse house. How fortuitous that I can fill in some more branches in my family tree. But alas, it's only the Morehouse side. Further digging will flesh out the other sides, particularly the maternal lines.

As is so often the case it isn't always easy or even possible to find out information about women throughout history (unless they've done something very naughty!?) Regrettably, records usually only pay attention to the males. But every now and then I am lucky enough to find snippets of a female family member. For example, my great-grandmother, Amelia Bolt, was a mini land tycoon. She bought and sold property (in her own name) at a dizzying rate, making a neat little profit. By the time of her death in 1949 she was able to leave each of her 8 children a parcel of land in or near London, Ontario. She was also pretty ballsy. I found a court case where she sued her neighbour for putting his driveway (on his land) too close to one of her houses. And she won!

Another great-grandmother, Anna Zaranek, an orphan at age 18 in England, braved a dangerous voyage across the sea, fending off unscrupulous people. She made her way across the border to Canada where her two brothers had settled a few years previously. And amazingly, she arrived in London, Ontario in 1906 with all her worldly possessions that she set out with -- including an antique rocking chair that sits in front of me as I type this. I have an amazing amount of admiration for these brave ladies. Is it any wonder that I look to my family tree for baby name inspiration?

So while it is great to find a serendipitous site that fills in many missing details, I see this mainly as new branches that I can use as jumping-off points to find even more relatives. And hopefully to find some more brash and sassy females in the bunch!

Why a blog?

Family history just fascinates me. And not just my own. There are many facts and people that have been lost to time. I really enjoy puzzles and sometimes I come across some really interesting mysteries in my genealogy travels. I'll post some of my musings here.